The excitement around Monster Hunter Wilds continues to build as directors Yuya Tokuda and Kaname Fujioka unveil a thrilling new locale and a formidable monster in an exclusive interview with IGN. Dive into the depths of the Oilwell Basin and confront its ruler, the fearsome Nu Udra.
Monster Hunter Wilds Introduces The Black Flame, Nu Udra
Welcome To Oilwell Basin
In the world of Monster Hunter Wilds, the Oilwell Basin stands out with its unique vertical structure, a departure from the series' typical horizontally expansive areas. Director Kaname Fujioka explained, "We had two horizontally broad locales in the Windward Plains and Scarlet Forest, so we decided to make the Oilwell Basin a vertically connected place. The deeper you go, the more magma-filled and hot it gets." The upper layers are characterized by oil-like swamps, creating a gradient that enhances the area's distinctiveness.
Director Yuya Tokuda added that the Oilwell Basin transforms during the Plenty event, resembling an underwater volcanic ecosystem. The design draws inspiration from the Coral Highlands of Monster Hunter World. "During the Fallow and Inclemency, smoke comes out of everywhere in the Oilwell Basin like it's some sort of volcano or hot spring. But during the Plenty, it takes on a clear, marine-like tone... Look closely at the environmental biology and you'll find that it's even a region inhabited by the kinds of creatures you'd expect to find on the ocean bed," Tokuda elaborated. Despite its seemingly lifeless appearance, the Oilwell Basin teems with unique monsters and creatures.
Nu Udra, The Black Flame
The apex predator of the Oilwell Basin is the Nu Udra, known as the "Black Flame." This colossal, octopus-like monster uses its environment to create a slimy, flammable body. With its tentacles, it captures prey before incinerating them with scorching flames. Nu Udra complements the elemental trio alongside Rey Dau of the Windward Plains, who commands lightning, and Uth Duna of the Scarlet Forest, who wields water.
Fujioka revealed the design inspiration behind Nu Udra, stating, "I’ve always wanted to add a tentacled creature at some point." The team transformed a typically aquatic creature into something more menacing, incorporating demonic elements and horn-like features on its head. The battle music, enriched with phrases and instruments reminiscent of black magic, enhances the ominous atmosphere. Tokuda praised the composition, saying, "We had the composers include phrases and musical instruments reminiscent of black magic. I think it ended up being a unique and good piece of music."
Facing Nu Udra is a daunting challenge, as it wields multiple tentacles and can unleash both focused and area-of-effect attacks rapidly. Its immunity to Flash Bombs, relying instead on its tentacles to sense its surroundings, makes it an even tougher adversary.
More Monsters In The Basin
The Oilwell Basin is not solely ruled by Nu Udra. The fiery, scaly Ajarakan, resembling a massive monkey, also roams the area. It employs martial arts-inspired movements and powerful punches, blending immense physical strength with fiery attacks, adding a thrilling new monster to the series.
Another inhabitant is the Rompopolo, a bizarre, globular creature with a needle-like mouth that expels toxic gases. Its striking purple hue and glowing red eyes evoke the image of a mad scientist. The developers drew inspiration from this archetype, describing Rompopolo as a "tricky monster." Despite its menacing appearance, the equipment crafted from its drops offers surprisingly "cute" designs for both Hunters and their Palico companions.
Returning to the series is Gravios from Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, fitting perfectly into the Oilwell Basin's environment. Tokuda explained, "When we were thinking of monsters that match the Oilwell Basin's environment, make sense in the game's overall progression and don't play too similarly to any other monsters, we thought that we could make Gravios seem like a fresh challenge and decided that it would reappear."
With these exciting revelations, anticipation for the release of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28th is at an all-time high. Get ready to explore the Oilwell Basin and face its formidable inhabitants in this thrilling new addition to the Monster Hunter series.
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